AN 



■^"^ 4> 



|i|iiit0rkitl SIhefcIt 



=T 



OF 



MIDDLETOWN. R. I., 



ORGANIZATION, IN 1743, 

TO THE 

CENTENNIAL YEAR, 1876. 



—BY— 



ON, SAMUEL GREEp ARNOLD. 



/ ^y OF Co^ 



NEWPORT : 

John P. Sanborn & Co., Mkrcury Steam Printing Housk. 

1S70. 



F?^ 



A (kESOLUTIOJ^ e ASSENT) (BY THE TOWJ^ 
COUNCIL IJ^VITIJ^G 

HON. SAMUEL GREENE ARNOLD, 

TO PREPARE AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 
TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN. 



At a meeting of the Town Council of JVIidclletown, held 
in said town, on Monday, October 16th, A. D. 1876 : 

Resolved^ That, in view of the fact that this town was una- 
ble to secure in July last the preparation of an historical 
sketch of this town from the date of its formation, as recom- 
mended by Congress and our State Legislature, that the 
Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, of this town, be and he is hereby 
invited to prepare such an historical sketch of this town at 
his earliest convenience, and that the clerk of this Council 
be and he is hereby directed to communicate to Mr. Arnold 
the invitation herein contained, by forwarding to him a copy 
of this resolution. 

A true copy — attest : 

ALBERT L. CHASE, Council Clerk. 



J. (kESOLUTIOM OF THAJ^KS TO 



Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, 



FOR HIS HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



Also, a resolution authorizing the Town Clerk to have the same printed. 



At a meeting of the Town Council of Micldletown, held in 
said town, on Monday, December 18th, A. D. 1876 : 

Resolved, That the Town Council would hereby respect- 
fully acknowledge the condescension and labors of the Hon. 
Samuel G. Arnold, in preparing an historical sketch of the 
town of Middletown, from the date of its formation, and do 
further hereby extend to him theii-i^ unfeigned thanks for the 
same. 

Resolved, That the Town Clerk o"^ Middletown be and he 
is hereby authorized and directed at the proper expense of 
this town, to have printed and bound in a suitable manner, 
500 copies of the Historical Sketch of the Town of Middle- 
town, as recently prepared by the Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, 
and to place fifty copies thereof at the disposal of the histo- 
rian, the said Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, to file one copy thereof 
with the Records in the Town Clerk's Office, one copy with 
the Secretary of State, one copy with the Librarian of Con- 
gress, to forward one copy thereof to the clerk of each town 
or city in this State, to retain fifty copies thereof for the use 
of such historical writers or collectors as may hereafter 
apply for the same, and to hold the remainder of said copies 
for distribution among the citizens, tax-payers and inhabi- 
tants of this town. 

True copies — attest : 

ALBERT L. CHASE, Council Clerk. 



The History. 



The History 



The agitation in Massachusntts which resulted in the ban- 
ishment of Roger Williams and the settlement of Providence, 
in 1636, had scarcely ceased when the Antinomian contro- 
versy commenced. Female influence upon the progress of 
thought and the destiny of States was never more signally 
manifested than in this struggle between the Puritan theolo- 
gy and the more liberal ideas inculcated by Mrs. Ann Hutch- 
inson. Beginning with theological differences, more appre- 
ciated in a polemic age, like the seventeenth century, than 
they would be in our time, the breach between the Legalists 
and the Antinomians rapidly widened. The former party 
embraced the older settlers and all the clergy but two in the 
colony ; the latter included most of the Boston church, with 
Cotton at its head, and Wheelwright of Braintree, the 
brother-in-law of Mrs. Hutchinson, as the only ministers on 
that side. The new comers, who were numerous, joined the 
popular party, whose leader was the young and ambitious 
Governor, afterwards Sir Henry Vane. From a purely theo- 
logical discussion, the dispute soon spread to the broader 
arena of politics. Obnoxious laws were enacted by the dom. 
inant faction, and were opposed by those who desired a wider 
field of action. For two years this strife was waged with 
all the bitterness of polemic warfare, and with the asperity 
of a political contest. But the spirit of free thought which 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 

had been awakened, was suddenly checked by one false step 
on the part of Wheelwright, who had been pronounced guilty 
of sedition and contempt by the General Court, and who 
threatened an appeal to the King in case the court should 
]3roceed to sentence him. The dread of interference from 
England, where their enemies were in power, was as great in 
the minds of the new comers as with the older colonists. 
The change in popular sentiment was rapid and entire. Cot- 
ton went over to the stronger party. The Antinomians 
were disarmed. Wheelwright was banished, and the same 
punishment was soon after inflicted upon Mrs. Hutchinson. 
Many of the other leaders were disfranchised, among whom 
were William Aspinwall, John Coggeshall, William Balstone, 
and Captain Underbill, a hero of the Pequot war. William 
Coddington, then a deputy from Boston, fell under the dis- 
pleasure of the court. Many of the ablest and best of the 
Puritan colonists were scattered abroad by this, the fiercest 
strife, which has ever distracted New England. For the 
love of peace, and to enjoy freedom of conscience, these men, 
twice exiled for opinion's sake, resolved to emigrate. With 
John Clarke and William Coddington as their leaders, they 
came to Providence, and on the advice and with the aid of 
Roger Williams, they purchased from the Indians the beau- 
tiful island of Acquedneck. On the twenty-fourth of March, 
1638, they began a settlement at Pocasset, on the northeast 
part of the island. So rapid was the increase of this colony, 
that in the following j-ear it was decided to form a new set- 
tlement on the southwest part of the island. Nicholas Eas- 
ton, with his two sons, Peter and John, were the pioneers of 
this enterprise. On the first of May, 1639, they landed at 
Newport, and on the 16th the town was laid out and named, 
and the dividing line from Pocasset was established at a point 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 9 

about five miles nortli cind east of the town, near the centre 
of the island. 

There were nine signers of tlie compact of emigration, 
framed at Pocasset on the twentj-eighth of April, 1639. 
These were : 

William Coddington, Judge. 
Nicholas Easton, "^ 
John Coggeshall, | 

WiLLIAIM BllENTON, \ 

John Clarke,— )>Elders. 
Jeremy Clerke,— 
Thomas Hazard, 
Henry Bull, 

William Dyre, Clerk. 

These constituted the first government of Newport. The 
larger portion remained at Pocasset and organized a new 
government on tlie thirtieth of April, under William Hutch- 
inson as Judge, with seven Assistants. They changed the 
Indian name of the place to Portsmouth. The separate 
governments of Portsmouth and Newport continued for 
about ten months, when they were united on the twelfth of 
March, 1640, at the first ''General Court of Election." The 
titles of Judge and Elders were changed to Governor and 
Assistants. William Coddington, of Newport, was chosen 
Governor, William Brenton, of Portsmouth, Deputy Gover- 
nor, with four Assistants, two Treasurers and two Consta- 
bles equally divided between the towns. William D^^er, of 
Newport, was chosen Secretary of the colony, and Henry 
Bull, Sergeant. Portsmouth was the more populous settle- 
ment. Five men from that town, and three from Newport, 
were selected to lay out the lands. In the original lay-out 
of Pocasset, six acres of land were apportioned to eacli in- 
habitant, which was soon after reduced one half. At New- 
port, four acic-s were assigned for each house lot, and six acres 

2 



10 HISTOEICAL SKETCH 

were granted to Mr. Coddington for an orchard-r-the second 
planted in the State. One hundred acres were appropriated 
for school lands. 

Of the startling principles of government established on 
the island, embodying the novel ideas of liberty already in- 
corporated at Providence, it is unnecessary to say much. 
Familiarity with these theories, now confirmed by two hun 
dred and forty years of successful application, and become 
the recognized system of the American continent, renders 
more than a mere allusion to them uncalled for in this place. 
"It is ordered and unanimously agreed upon, that the Gov- 
ernment which this Bodie Politick doth attend unto in this 
Island, and the Jurisdiction thereof, in favor of our Prince 
is a Democeacie, or Popular Government ; that is to say. 
It is in the Powre of the Bod}- of Freemen, orderly assem- 
bled, or the major part of them, to make or constitute Just 
Laws, by which they will be regulated, and to depute from 
among themselves such Ministers as shall see them faithfully 
executed between Man and Man." This was the remarka- 
ble manifesto of civil rights put forth at the second general 
court of election in March, 1641. It was followed by an 
equally memorable declaration of religious liberty. "It was 
further ordered, by the authority of this present Courte, that 
none be accounted a Delinquent for Doctrine.'''' Here 
were the two distinctive, and at that da}^, entirel}' novel 
features in a State constitution, which make the rise of Rhode 
Island an era not alone in American history, but in the 
political experience of mankind. 

In 1644, the name of Acquedneck was dropped and that 
of Rhode-island was adopted, which has since been extended 
to the State. Meanwhile, in March of that year, a Parlia- 
mentary charter had been obtained by Roger Williams, uni- 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 11 

ting the several settlements in the State under the style of 
"The Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the Narra- 
ganset Bay in New England," but the colonial government 
was not organized under this patent till May, 1647. 

The New England League, from which Rhode Island was 
basely excluded b}^ the parties who claimed jurisdiction over 
the now organized and independent colony, and the covert 
ambition of Coddington, who sought to detach the island 
from the mainland towns and erect it into a separate govern- 
ment, with himself at its head, imperilled the existence of 
the State. Early in 1649 Coddington sailed for England, 
and after two years returned, to the consternation of the 
whole colony, with a commission for life as governor of the 
islands of Rhode Island and Conanicut. The patent was 
thus virtually annulled, the colonial government destroyed, 
and the islands given over to a usurper. John Clarke and 
Roger Williams were at once sentt') England by the alarmed 
colonists, the former to obtain a revocation of the commis- 
sion of Coddington, the latter to secure a confirmation of the 
charter. The}' sailed together from Boston, worked together 
in England, and triumphed together in the end. Codding- 
ton's commission was revoked by an order of Council, Oc- 
tober 2d, 1652. But the divisions in the colony were not 
healed, nor a reunion under the old patent effected for near- 
ly two years, till the return of Mr. Williams in the summer 
of 1654. He was chosen President of the colony at the 
next election. Dr. Clarke remained abroad nearly thirteen 
year's as agent of the colony, and after the restoration of the 
Stuarts, obtained from Charles II. the royal charter of July 
8tli, 1663. By this the corporate title was changed to "The 
English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Planta 
tions in New England, in America." Under this charter, 



12 HISTOKICAL SKETCH 

the freest and most republican instrument that ever emana- 
ted from the throne of a monarch, the State existed for one 
hundred and eighty years, passing safely through the coloni- 
al and the revolutionary periods down to our da}^ Under it 
Newport became, with the exception of Boston, the most 
flourishing commercial town in America. It was the centre 
of a circle, embracing the island and the Narraganset coun- 
try, which revived in the New World the traditions and cus- 
toms of the Old in all that pertained to the amenities of 
social life. Education was early promoted, and as enterprise 
expanded and wealth increased, Art was encouraged and 
scholarship was recognized and honored. The sports of Eng- 
lish country life and the studies of the English schools were 
pursued w^ith equal ardor. A society as refined as could 
anywhere be found, was centered in Newport towards the 
middle of the eighteenth century. To this society there 
came in the winter of 1729-30, a great addition in the per- 
son of George Berkeley, dean of Derry, and afterwards 
bishop of Cloyne. So intimately associated is this great 
name with the town where he made his temporary abode, 
that no apology is necessary for dwelling at some length 
upon what proved so interesting an event. He was accom- 
panied by a staff of scholars and artists proposed as the fac- 
ulty of a college he sought to estal)lish in Bermuda. The 
failure of his scheme resulted in benefit to the colonies by 
the stimulus which these men gave to learning and art in 
New England. After a few months residence in Newport, 
most of his companions moved to Boston, but Berkeley re- 
mained. Purchasing a farm of ninety-six acres, about three 
miles from town, on the eastern slope of Honeyman's hill, in 
what is now Middletown, he built a comfortable country 
house in the English style of those days. Here, at the age 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 13 

of fourty-four, he established himself with his lately married 
wife, and here two ehildren were born to him, one of whom, 
d3-in!:>' in infancy, was bnried in the grave-yard of Trir.ity 
church. How genial was the life at Newport in the times of 
Avhich we are now writing, may be seen in a brief extract 
from Eraser's Life and Works of Berkeley. (1) In that ex- 
quisite chapter entitled "A recluse in Rhode Island," which 
reads like an idyl, the author says : 

" The Rhode Island aristocracy of Berkeley's time main- 
tained the character of the old English country gentlemen, 
from whom they were descended. A state of societ3% sup- 
ported by slavery, produced festivity. Tradition records the 
genial life of those da3^s in the colony. Excursions to Hart- 
ford to luxuriate on bloated salmon were annual indulgen- 
ces in May. Pace races on the beach for silver tankards 
were the- social indulgences of summer. When autumn ar- 
rived, there were harvest-home festivities. Large numbers 
of both sexes gathered on those occasions. Gentlemen in 
their scarlet coats and swords, with laced ruffles over their 
hands,' silk stockings, and shoes ornamented with silver 
buckles, and ladies dressed in brocade, with high-heeled shose 
and high head-dresses. These festivities would sometimes 
continue for days, and they were shared by the slaves as well 
as their masters. Christmas was the great festival of the 
year ; twelve days were then given to hospitalities. The 
wedding, too, was a great gala in the olden time. And the 
fox chase, with hounds and horns, as well as fishing and 
fowling, were favorite sports in Narragansett." 

Berkeley's country home he named from the residence of 
the English King's — Whitehall. It adjoined the farm of the 
Rev. James Honeyman, the first missionary sent to America 
bj' the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign 
parts. The name is still retained, and the house is yet stand- 
ing, an object of interest to all strangers visiting the now fa- 
mous watering place, and a sort of Mecca for all philosoj)lii- 
cal students from both hemispheres. For nearly two years 
that Berkeley remained in Rhode Island, his time was studi- 

1. The Works of George Berkeley, D. D. by Alexander Campbell Fraser, A. M., 
in Four Vols. Oxford, 1871. 



14 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

ously employed. Here he wrote some of his most celebra- 
ted works. Of these, ''Alciphron or the Minute Philoso- 
pher" was wholly written in Rhode Island, and abounds in 
descriptions of life and scenery in the vicinity. "The first 
page of Alciphro7i represents Berkeley in the last year of his 
family life at Whitehall. The whole book represents his 
studies there, in t :e library, in the field, and on the sea 
shore," says his biographer. This work is "An Apology for 
the Christian Religion against those who are called Free- 
thinkers." To combat the progress of materialism, and sub- 
vert the Epicurean theories of Hobbs, Berkeley had become 
the champion of the immaterial system of philosophy, and 
argued the non-existence of matter, or rather its entire sub- 
jection to the ideal. Alciphron is divided into seven dia- 
logues, held between four friends, of whom two advocate 
atheism, while the others defend religion, and in their warm, 
free and earnest conversation, the high argument is evolved. 
A single brief extract may be allowed in this place as illus- 
trating one feature of the social life of those da3's : 

"We had hardl}- seated ourselves and looked about us, 
when we saw a fox run by the foot of our mount into an ad- 
jacent thicket. A few minutes after, we heard a confused 
noise of the opening of hounds, and winding of horns, and 
the roaring of country squires. While our attention was 
suspended l)y this event, a servant came running, out of 
breath, and told Crito that his neighbor Ctessipus, a squire 
of note, was fallen from his horse, attempting to leap over a 
ledge, and brought into the hall, where he lay for dead. 
Upon which we all rose and walked hastily to the house, 
where we found Ctesippus just come to himself, in the midst 
of half a dozen sun-burnt squires in frocks, and short wigs, 
and jockey-boots. ' Being asked how he did, he answered it 
was only a broken rib. With some difiiculty Crito persua- 
ded him to lie on a bed till the chirurgeon came. These fox- 
hunters, having been up early at their sport, were eager for 
dinner, which was accordingly hastened. They passed the 
afternoon in a loud, rustic mirth, gave proof of their relig- 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 16 

ion and loyalty by the healths they drank, talked of hounds, 
and horses, and elections, and country fairs, till the chiriir- 
geon, who had been employed about Ctesippus, desired he 
might be put into Crito's coach, and sent home, having re- 
fused to stay all night." 

One more extract from Berkeley's works ma}' be permit- 
ted. The short jioem whose concluding stanza has made it 
immortal, was probably written at this time, and associates 
Berkeley's Rhode Island home with the finest inspiration of 
his muse : 

VERSES 

ON THE 

PROSPECT OF PLANTING ARTS AND LEARNING 

IN 

AMERICA. 



The Muse, disgusted at an age and clime 

Barren of every glorious theme. 
In distant lands now waits a better time. 

Producing subjects worthy fame. 

In happy climes, where from the genial sun 
And virgin earth such scenes ensue. 

The force of art by nature seems outdone. 
And fancied beauties by the true ; 

In happy climes, the seat of innocence, 
Where nature guides and virtue rules, 

Where men shall not impose for truth and sense 
The pedantry of courts and schools ; 

There shall be sung another golden age, 

The rise of empire and of arts. 
The good and great inspiring epic rage. 

The wisest heads and noblest hearts. 



16 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

Not such as Europe breeds iu her deca}' ; 

Such as she bred when fresh and young, 
When heavenly flame did animate her clay, 

By future poets shall be sung. 

Westward the course of empire takes its way ; 

The four first Acts already past, 
A fifth shall close the Di-ama with the day ; 

Time's noblest offspring is the last. 

In the autumn of 1731, Berkeley prepared to return to 
England, after a residence of less than two years in America. 
But he has left behind him an impression such as few men 
have anywhere made in so short a time. He. founded a phi- 
losophical society in Newport, wliose books formed the basis 
of the Redwood Library, incorporated in 1747. Tradition 
points to a beetling cliff at the second beach, known as the 
Hanging Rock, as the favorite resort of the Christian philos- 
opher, where he composed a great part of the Alciphron ; 
and popular fancy has given to this romantic spot the name 
of Berkele} 's Cave. Whatever of classic association per- 
vades the vicinity of his island home, and consecrates these 
beautiful shores, is due to the genius, and twines around the 
memory of George Berkeley. 

The population of Newport in 1730 was 4640, having more 
than doubled within twenty-two years since the first census 
ever taken in the colony in 1708. That it was growing rap- 
idly is shown by the succeeding census, eighteen years later, 
when it numbered G508, notwithstanding the loss of over 
six hundred by the division of the town ; for in 1748, the 
first census after the separation, Middletown had 680 in- 
habitants. The almost complete destruction of the Newport 
records leaves us to conjecture that the movement of the ru- 
ral districts, of the north and east of the compact part of the 
town, for a separate organization, had its origin in the usual 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 17 

occasion for such divisions, the inequality in the distribution 
of taxes. Two mutiLited fragments of the records sliow that 
the question was discussed in town meeting and the petition 
for a division rejected, and that at a later meeting a commit- 
tee was appointed to examin.e and report on the case : 
"At a town meeting called at y® request [of a] 
number of y^ inhabitants of y® woods 
November 16, 17 [41? upon the] 

Petition of a number of y® inhabitants of [tlie woods] 
being read for dividing y^ town. It was put [to vote] 
whether ye' town should be divided into two parts. 
Voted that it should not be divided." 

The deputies were directed to oppose the petition for di- 
vision, Jan. 26, 1742. 

"Voted — That the General Assembly of [the colony be 
invited] to insj)ect into the circumstances of the town [and] 
see if there be a necessity of dividing y® [town, and if] 
there be, in what manner, and make [report at] 
y® next sessions of Assembly. Be served [with a copy] 
of y® said General Assembly's Act, and said town 
Rodman to get y*' coj^y of y^ sd. act of Assembly and 
deliver [it to] said gentlemen [who are instructed] 
to enter upon said affair and to determine."' 
This is all in relation to the subject that now appears upon 
the Newport records. But "y*^ inhabitants of y® woods" 
carried their point. At the June session, 1743, the General 
Assembly passed 

"An Act for dividing the town of Newport, in the county 
of Newport, into two towns. 

Be it enacted by ihe General Assembly of this colony, and 
by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the said town of 
Newport, be divided into two towns ; and the division to begin 
at the head of the creek that separates the two farms of the 
Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., and Godfrev Malbone, of said 
3 



18 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

Newport, merchaiit ; and so to extend upon a direct line be- 
tween the two houses of Elisha Card, and that in the pos- 
session of Samuel Pemberton, Esq., and from thence on a 
straight line to tlie place where the creek on Easton's beach 
rurs into the sea; and all to the southward and westward 
of the said line, to belong to the town of Newport ; and all 
to the northward and eastward of said line to be incorporated 
into a town by the name of Middletown. 

And be it further enacted by the authorit}^ aforesaid, that 
John Dexter, Esq., Messrs. Benjamin Peckham, Jr., and 
Samuel Easton, surveyor, be, and they are hereby appointed 
a committee, they, or the major part of them, to run the 
aforesaid line, and make report to the next session of this 
Assembly." 

The act of incorporation was passed at the next session in 

August, as follows : 

"An Act for incorporating the north- east part of the town 
of Newport into a township, and the same to be distinguished 
and known by the name of Middletown. 

Whereas, the General Assembly, at their session held by 
adjournment at Newport, within and for said colony, on the 
second Monday in June last past, did, among other things, 
enact that the town of Newport should be divided into two 
towns ; and for that purpose appointed a committee to run 
the dividing line, and make report thereon to this present 
session of the Assembly, who have accordingly reported that 
they have done the same, in the following manner : 

Beginning at the head of the creek that separates the two 
farms of the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., and Godfrey Mal- 
bone of said Newport, merchant ; and on a south course, 
nineteen degrees and one half east, run a direct line, extend- 
ing to the north-east Corner of a lot of land belonging to Job 
Almy, of said Newport, merchant; the said (jorner being 
between the houses of Elisha Card and that in the possession 
of Samuel Pemberton ; and from said corner a straight line 
south, twenty-seven degrees east, crossing the bridge that 
lieth over the creek on Easton's beach ; and so into the sea 
on that course, it being the place where the said creek usually 
runs into the sea. 

And the said report being accepted : 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of this colony, and 
by the authority of the same it is enacted, that all the lands 
to the southward and westward of the said line, as before 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 19 

described, belong to the town of Newport; and all the land 
to the northward and eastward of said line be distinguised 
and known by the name of Middletown ; and that the inhab- 
itants of said Middletown, from time to time shall have and 
enjoy the like benefits, liberties, privileges and immunities 
with other towns in this colony, accordingto charter. 

And be it farther enacted by the authority aforesaid, that 
the justices of the peace, living within the aforesaid town of 
Middletown, shall remain and continue in their aforesaid 
offices until the next general election ; and that the first of 
said justices of the peace grant forth his warrant to call the 
inhabitants of said Middletown together on Tuesday next, 
being the '20th day of August instant, to elect and appoint 
said town officers as they shall have occasion for, and the law 
directs ; and to appoint the times and places of their town 
meetings ; and to choose and elect two deputies to represent 
them at the next General Assembly, and so on, as by the 
charter is directed. 

And be it further enacted l\y the authority aforesaid, that 
said town of Middletown shall send one grand and three 
petit jurors to the superior court of judicature, court of assize 
and general jail delivery ; and three grand and three petit 
jurors to every inferior court of common pleas and general 
sessions of the peace held within the county of Newport ; 
and that the town of Newport shall hereafter send to each 
of the aforesaid courts so many jurors less of what they are 
now compelled by law, as is ordered to be sent by the afore- 
said town of Middletown." 

Under this Act the division between the towns was made 
August 24th, 1743. The first town meeting was held August 
30th, and the organization was perfected by the election of 
two deputies to the General Assembly, a town clerk, town 
treasurer, towil sergeant, six councilmen, three constables, 
one packer, one sealer of weights and measures, three rate- 
makers, two overseers of t le poor, four surveyors of high- 
Avays, three fence viewers, one vendue master, one pound 
keeper, three field drivers, three viewers of flax and hemp, 
two wood corders — thirty-eight officers of seventeen classes — 
and they also appointed a committee to erect a pound. The 
first meeting of the town council was held September 12th, 



20 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

at which licenses to sell liquors were granted to three men 
upon their giving bonds to keep order, and John Charaplain 
was licensed "to retail strong liquors thos3 days that the 
council sits at his house." Meetings of the council were 
established for the third Monday in each month, at 10 
o'clock in the morning, but this hour was soon after changed 
to eleven, with a fine of six pence for delay or absence with- 
out good excuse. The council acted as a court of probate, 
board of health, overseers of the poor, and commissioners of 
licenses, and also decided who might become inhabitants of 
the town. Beyond these duties and the laying out and 
repairing of highways, there is little of interest in the coun- 
cil proceedings, which occupy seven volumes of records. 
Matters of general interest were always discussed in town 
meetings, the records of which are contained in three large 
volumes. There is an old volume o^ Proprietors records 
extending from 1702 to 1756, which describes the common 
lands, and records the disposition made of them. These 
commons were in several parcels — the town common of one 
hundred and one acres on tha main road, fifty-eight on the 
west side, and forty-three on the east, including a six acre 
school lot — Lenthal's plain common of two hundred twenty- 
eight and a half acres, Clarke's common, being part of the 
bequest of Dr. John Clarke for charitable uses — Sachuest 
neck and beach and the adjoining rocky lands — land on the 
southwest neck, besides Goat and Coaster's Harbor islands. 
Most of these were divided by a committee of fourteen men 
appointed by the Proprietors January 12th, 1701-2, who on 
the 11th of February proposed : 

1st — That two lots of six acres each be set off as school 
land. 

2d — That six acres more be set off' for school land on "the 
common near the pound." 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 21 

3d — That one acre near the town be set off for a prison, 
and one acre for an ahnshonse and house of correction. The 
other propositions rehxte to the mode of division among the 
Proprietors — a shilling an acre, to cover expenses, to be paid 
by each person to whom land is awarded. A list of one 
hundred and eleven names of those entitled to whole shares 
of land appears in the records. On 12th March 1701-2 Sam- 
uel Cranston and Nathaniel Goddington were appointed to 
survey the undivided lands. June. 17th, the Proprietors 
"agreed that the common adjoining William Barker and 
others there should be for the rocky land allowed to the 
eastward of the second ledge of rocks one half for the rocks, 
and the neighborhood should have liberty to dig and cart 
awa}" of the stones of that common for their use if they have 
any occasion for them, and what rocks to the westward of 
the ledge the surveyors or committee to give allowance at 
their discretion." (1) The surveys being completed in July, 
the work of division began. On the -Slst, four acres were 
set apart on Goat Island upo)i which to build a fort. In De- 
cember the divided lands were confirmed to the grantees by 
vote of the Proprietors. The next year, in June, 1703, some 
lands on the southwest neck that had not yet been laid out, 
were surveyed and divided, and in August, 1704, the same 
was done with Goat and Coaster's Harb(U' islands. The 
Proprietors kept up their organization after these divisions, 
but very rarel}^ met. On the 26th of February, 1744, by a 
formal vote they unanimously agreed "to relinquish uj) to the 
town of Middletown all their right and title in the lands 
lying on Sachuest beach, to be by the said town managed 
from time to time forever hereafter as an estate belonging to 
said town." The last record of the Proprietors is dated 

I Tliis clause is quoted on p. 3T3, Vol. 2, of Town Meeting records in the Report 
of <a Conimiitoe "to enquire into all tlie roads and coninionages in said town," 
made April 20th, 183(i. 



22 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

1756, April 21. John Barker was chosen clerk, and a cora- 
raittee was appointed to transfer to him from the widow of 
the late clerk, Edward Easton, the Proprietor's records. Most 
of the lands had long since been divided, and the greater 
part of those which remained in common had been conveyed 
to the town of Middletown twelve years before. The asso- 
ciation of Proprietors became extinct. 

In November, 1743, the first tax, of £200, for town 
expenses, was voted. 

A committee was appointed to dr?ft ordinances for the 
town government, and the clerk was ordered to provide a 
pair of stocks and whipping post. The elections for town 
officers were appointed to be held on the second Wednesday 
in May, and a list of eighty-four freemen was enrolled. In 
March following, it was voted to pay twenty pounds each to 
Col. Daniel Updike and James Honeyman. Jr., for their ser- 
vices done for this town." This service was rendered in pro- 
curing the act of incorporation. A committee to settle 
accounts with Newport was chosen. Acts were passed for 
impounding cattle and sheep, regulating surveyors of high- 
ways, and giving a bounty of eight pence for the destruction 
of crows, and three pence for black birds, from April 1st to 
June 10th. Four years later, this bounty was increased to 
eighteen pence for crows and eight for blackbirds, and in 
1749 the act was repealed. Free inhabitants, or housekeep- 
ers, were to work the roads for three days in September. 
Action was taken on building a bridge over the creek at 
Easion's beach, and on repairing the school house. 

Freemen were admitted, jurors drawn and deputies elected 
at the April and August meetings, and town officers were 
chosen in May. In August, 1744, a proposition to sue New- 
port for the town's rights in Goat and Coaster's Harbor 



OP MIDDLETOWN. 23 

islands was made, but a vigorous protest, signed by twenty 
freemen, on the ground that these places belonged to New- 
port in the division, put an end to the unjust claim. In 
May. 1745, the town formally accepted the grant of iSachu- 
est common made by the Proprietors the preceding Feb- 
ruary. The next year the beach was sold to Jon^athan Easton 
for X 237.18. There were at this time two school houses in 
the town. A teacher was engaged for one year, to occupy 
each house half the time, and to keep school five days in the 
week. His salary was to be paid by the rent of the school 
lands, and by a weekly charge for tuition, and in case these 
sources did not suffice, then by a draft on the town treasurer 
for the balance due. 

. A peculiarity of those days was the oath against bribery, 
which, by a law of the colony passed at the August session, 
1746, was required to be taken by all freemen. The statute 
required an oath to be administered to every voter, and 
another to be taken by every officer, not to receive or offer 
bribes' in any manner. A single vote cast for any officer 
under such circumstances, should invalidate his election, and 
in all trials under the Act, the evidence of the person offering 
the bribe might be taken against the accused. The law was 
to be read in town meeting at each semi-annual election for 
five 3^ears, and the name of any violator of it was to be struck 
from the roll of freemen. 

Questions relating to the schools have been the subject of 
frequent controversy in the town, from its organization down 
to a recent date. At first the schools wei'e in charge of a 
committee, but in May, 1747, "they were put in the hands of 
the town council, and in August their management was taken 
from the council, and a teacher was hired by the town meet- 
ing. The next year the business was properly intrusted 



24 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

again to a committee. This arrangement continued till 

August, 1754, when it was 

"Voted, That the late method of managing the two schools 
in this town be altered, and that for the future they be man- 
aged as follows, viz : — that the town be divided into two 
squadrons, one house in each squadron, and that each squad- 
ron shall have thQ sole power of managing their own school 
house and lands by leasing out the same, and employing 
schoolmasters as it shall be most agreeable to them, and the 
dividing line between the squadrons shall be along the high- 
Avay from the south end of Moon's lane and so northward 
along the east highway to Portsmouth, by James Mitchell's 
shop." 

The schools thus passed into the hands of their separate 
districts, or "sqnadroiis" as they were termed, which system 
continued till the reorganization of the school sj^stem of the 
State in 1845. 

Town meetings were held alternately in the east and west 
school-houses. They were called by the town sergeant noti- 
fying each freeman personally till 1752, when the plan of 
posting notices in public places was permanently adopted- 
Fifteen days' notice was required by this ordinance, -and the 
notices usually stated the purpose of the meeting. 

In May, 1746, the small pox appeared in the town, and 
the council, acting as a board of health, took vigorous 
measures to prevent its spreading. The lane leading to the 
infected spot was closed by a fence, a guard was stationed 
near by, with orders to kill all dogs and cattle at or near the 
place, and a ver}- thorough course of purification was adopted 
in the house. There was no more trouble from this cause 
for twenty-eight j^ears. 

The opening of highways, as it is a subject of the greatest 
public importance, has alwaj^s been a source of contention 
in Middletown. Not a road of any consequence has ever 
been projected, that has not been opposed, either b}- that 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 25 

narrow prejudice which fails to discern in a direct benefit to 
one portion of a community the real good of all, or else by a 
dogged obstinacy which sets up the will of the individual 
against the wishes or the prosperity of the whole. Anxious 
sessions of the Council have often resulted in referring these 
questions to the final decisions of town meetings, and years 
have elapsed before a necessary improvement has been 
effected, and then at greater cost and trouble in the end than 
would have sufficed to open half a dozen roads. Let one 
example of the truth of these remarks be followed in detail 
through the records, at the risk of being tedious. January 
18th, 1747-8, a petition was presented to the Coiuicil to open 
a road from Easton's beach to Sachuest. February I5th this 
petition was rejected. The petitioners appealed to the Gen- 
eral Assembly, and in October the Council appointed a com- 
mittee to prepare an answer to the petition before the As- 
sembly. On the 20th March following, the report of this 
committee was referred, and on the 18th December it was 
rejected. On the 24th P'ebruary, a memorial to the General 
Assembly in regard to this road was prepared. Three days 
later, the Assembly adopted a report of their committee that 
a driftway was sufficient and an open highway was not re- 
quired. This was a defeat of the petitioners for an open 
highway, but it virtually established the road. May 21, 
1750, a new committee was appointed by the Council to 
again lay out the road. Five days later the report of that 
committee was accepted, and seven pounds damages were 
awarded to Jonathan Easton, whose land the road crossed. 
Easton appealed from this award, and on 18th June a jury 
was warned to hear this appeal. On 4th August a warrant 
was issued to summon this jury. They met on the 13th and 
sustained the lay out. A suit was then brought by the town 
4 



26 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

against Easton for expenses in re-laying out the road. Easton 
then petitioned the General Assembly, and on 19th Novem- 
ber the Council appointed a committee to answer Easton's 
petition before the Assembly. On the first of Deceml)er 
this committee reported to the Council, and their answer 
was ordered to be sent to the General Assembly. January 
21st the town treasurer was ordered to sue Easton for the 
expenses of the last lay out of the road. The contest before 
the Assembly did not result in a manner satisfactory to the 
town, and on May 20th, 1751, a further reply to Easton's 
petition to the Assembly was ordered to be made, and an 
attorney to be employed for the town. Tlie case went 
against the town, and August 17, 1752, Easton having got 
judgment against the town council for his cost in petitioning 
the Assembly for relief about the driftway, the Council pe- 
titioned the General Assembly for stay of execution. Thus 
for more than five years the town was involved in useless 
litigation, harassed by the wilfulness of one obstinate land- 
owner, and finally by the direct interposition of the General 
Assembly received a road which the public interest demanded, 
but which vacillation on()ne side and perverseness on the 
other had so long held in abeyance. 

But more serious subjects were soon to engage the atten- 
tion and employ the combative energies of the townsmen. 
In 1754 the alarm of war summoned the young men of 
America to arms. The attempt of the commissioners at 
Paris to define the boundaries of the French and English 
possessions in North America had failed. The advanced 
posts of the rival nations were pushed nearer to each other. 
Fort Duquesne was built by the French on the site o^ Pitts- 
burg. An expedition against that point, led by Lieutenant- 
Colonel George Washington, with a detachment of Virginia 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 27 

volunteers, surprised the advance guard of the French near 
the Great Meadows, on the night of the twenty-seventh of 
May, and begun a war more wide spread in its range and more 
momentous in its results than any conflict of modern times. 
The struggle for the possession of the Ohio Valley, then a 
remote and little known region in the American wilderness, 
was to involve the whole world in war, and at the end of 
nine years to result in diiving the French entirely from the 
Western continent, in founding a great British empire in 
India, in establishing the Prussian monarchy in Europe, and 
in giving to England the supremacy of the seas, and to her 
American colonies the discipline and the stimulus necessary, 
a few years later, for successful revolt. Throughout the 
colonies recruiting was aclive. An expedition against Crown 
Point was planned, and in March, 1755, Rhode Island sent 
four hundred men, under Col, Christopher Harris, to join the 
army of Sir William Johnson, assembled in the Mohawk 
country for this purpose. Braddock's defeat on the 0th of 
July spread consternation through the colonies and called 
for renewed efforts to arrest the threatened triumph of the 
French. A special session of the Assembly was convened, 
and three additional companies of fifty men each, in excess of 
the Rhode Island quota, were equipped and S3nt to Albany. 
On the eighth of September, the day of General Lyman's 
victory at Lake George, Gov. Hopkins called another special 
session of the Assembly. Still more troops were required, 
and four additional companies were raised by t'lis colony. 
Col Harris's regiment was increased to 750 men in eleven 
companies. It was a heavy strain upon the already exhausted 
people, but it was bravely met. Three men was the propor- 
tion allotted to Middletownin this last levy, and a bounty of 
,£180 was voted to them in addition to that offered by the 



28 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

colony. To raise this sum a tax of £200 was assessed. 
James Phillips advanced XlOO, half the amount, and eighty 
pounds more were paid on the spot by other townsmen. The 
next year, upon a further levy of troops, <£700 bounty was 
voted for the seven men required from this town, and this was 
increased in January, 1757, to £1634. The rapid deprecia- 
tion of the colonial paper issues may account for this increase 
of bounty. In April, 175S, twelve men were enlisted for the 
new campaign, in which the Rhode Island regiment was in- 
creased to one thousand men, and X500 bounty was paid to 
them. This was the last levy of troops in this town during 
the war, that appears upon the records. 

For ten years nothing of note occurred in the affairs of the 
town. In the meantime the colony, while exhausting its 
resources in the prosecution of the war, was distracted by a 
bitter political contest at home. The struggle between the 
rival parties, headed respectively by Samuel Ward and 
Stephen Hopkins, had continued with alternating success for 
thirteen years. Into the conflict between town and country, 
hard money and paper, peace and war, there entered the 
sharper elements of personal enmity, till even the amenities 
of social life were sacrificed to the spirit of party. But sud- 
denly the shadow of a mightier struggle, the end whereof no 
human eye could foresee, was thrown across the path of the 
colonists. In the presence of this portentous gloom, the 
strife of party ceased. The two popular governors both 
withdrew, and a fusion of the rival parties was effected in the 
interest of peace at home, and for resistance to aggressions 
by the British ministry. At a town meeting, January 6th, 
1768, a plan presented by the people of Newport to encour- 
age colonial industry, frugality, and domestic manufactures, 
was adopted. The following vote was passed, looking to the 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 29 

reconciliation of parties, which was effected a few weeks 
kiter. "Whereas this colony hath for several years past been 
unhappily divided by party and faction, the consequences of 
which were pernicious and tend to the entire destruction of 
this once happy, flourishing colony. It is therefore voted by 
this town meeting that our Representatives take the same 
into consideration, and use their utmost endeavors for a con- 
ciliation of parties before the next general election." 

There were still some unsettled sources of disagreement 
in the town. Sachuest beach had been sold to Jonathan 
Easton in 1746, but the town claimed a common right to take 
seaAveed, which was disputed by Easton. November 18th, 
1771, the Council called a town meeting, held on the 21st, 
at which it was decided to defend Isaac Smith in a suit 
brought against him by Easton for taking seaweed. 

In January, 1774, the people of Newport called the first 
meeting in the colony to oppose the introduction of tea by 
the East India Company, and requested the other towns to 
do the same. Middletown followed on the 9th of February, 
with the following resolutions, the most concise of any that 
were adopted : 

"Mr. John Clarke, Moderator. The town came into the 
following resolves ; — 1. Resolved, That we will have noth- 
ing to do with the East India Company's irksome tea, nor 
any other subject to the like duty. 2. Resolved, That we 
will heartily unite with our American Brethren in supporting 
the inhabitants of this continent in all their just rights and 
privileges ; and we do disown any right in the Parliament of 
Great Britain to tax America. Voted and passed. Witness, 
John Barker, town clerk." 

In November the small pox again appeared. The cases 
were sent to the almshouse at Coaster's Harbor. The same 



30 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

precautions were adopted as during the previous epidemic. 
Two years prior to this it had been brought to Newport by 
a vessel, and the question of adopting the Turkish preventive 
of inocuhition had agitated the community. The Rep- 
resentatives from this town had been instructed to oppose 
in the General Assembly its introduction into the colony ; 
while in Newport town meetings were held on four successive 
days, and in only one did the advocates of inoculation obtain 
a majority of seven votes, while in the other three meetings 
its opponents had prevailed by a yet closer vote. For thir- 
teen years the disease appeared at different times. In 1785 
it was v^,;ted, 38 to 15, "that inoculation be not practiced in 
this town," and it was not till 1787 that the opposition in 
Middletown finally yielded, and the Council ordered that a 
family in which the disease had appeared should be inocula- 
ted. 

On the 4th January, 1775, it was "Voted, that John 
Barker, Wm. Stoddard, Esqr., Capt. James Potter, Mr. Isaac 
Smith, Capt. Wm. Taggart, Mr. Nicholas Easton, and Mr. 
Joshua Barker be a committee of correspondence for this 
town, agreeable to the eleventh article of the Continental 
Congress." On 29th August, ten more were chosen as a 
"Committee of Inspection." The next year was one of 
alarm, and of active militar}' preparation. The town me- 
morialized the Assembly in February in regard to its exposed 
position. In April it received two field pieces from the 
State, and organized an artillery company, with John Bull 
as captain and Elisha Allen, lieutenant. In June, forty 
bushels of salt at six shillings, and one thousand pounds of 
wool, at two shillings, were bought for the town. In Sep- 
tember a Ijounty of forty-two shillings was voted to privates 
who furnished their own blankets, and forty-eight shillings 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 31 

to those who fiirnislied all their equipments. The names of 
ten enlistedmenappear on the records September 21st. These 
were recruits for Col. Richmond's regiment, then at New- 
port. On 23d November the clerk was instructed to remove 
the records in case of danger. The peril was now imminent. 
On December 2d a bounty of forty-two shillings was 
voted to men enlisted for three months in Col. Sayles' 
regiment. This was the last town meeting for thirty-seven 
months, for on that day a British fleet of eleven ships, under 
Sir Peter Parker, appeared off Block Island, and on the 8th, 
6000 British troops landed at Greensdale, in this town, and 
after a night of pillage, marched into Newport. The enemy 
held the island till October 25th, 1779, notwithstanding two 
attempts to dislodge them ; an abortive effort in October, 
1777, under Gen. Spencer, and Sallivan''s expedition, result- 
ing in the brilliant but fruitless victory of 29th August, 1778, 
which received the high enconium of Lafayette, that "it 
was the best fought action of the war." This town was the 
scene of many gallant deeds during that period to which we 
can barely refer. The daring capture of Prescott by Col. 
Wm. Barton on the night of July 9th, 1777, occurred just 
north of the town line in Portsmouth. The less known, but 
scarcely less courageous conduct of Isaac Barker of Middle- 
town, is worthy of commemoration. Pretending to be a 
tory, he remained on his farm upon the east side of the 
island, in plain sight of the Seaconnet shore. A British 
colonel was quartered at his house, from whom Barker often 
learned the designs of the enemy. A system of signals was 
arranged between him and Lieut. Chapin of Sherburne's reg- 
iment, stationed on the opposite shore, by means of bars and 
a stake in a stone wall, which could be seen from Seaconnet 
with a spy glass. The farm was near North point towards 



32 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

the end of which is a ledge of rocks wherein was a crevice 
used by Barker as a post-office. In this crevice he would 
deposit a letter at night when anything of importance was to 
be communicated, and the next day would arrange the signal 
at the bars. Chapin would then come over in a boat by 
night and get the letter. This plan required great courage 
and address, but was successfully practiced b}- Barker for 
fourteen months, from August, 1778, till the British left the 
island, although at the constant risk of his life. Several 
times he narrowly escaped discovery. On the 15th August, 
1778, Sullivan's army advanced within two miles of the hos- 
tile lines, which extended from Tonomy hill to Easton's 
pond. That night a detachment fortified Honeyman's hill, 
within half a mile of the first line of British works on Bliss's 
hill. For five days a continual cannonade was kept up along 
the whole line, and the enemy were driven from some of 
their outposts. The sudden departure of the French fleet 
alone prevented the capture of the whole British army at 
that time. On the 28th October the gallant exploit of Major 
Silas Talbot in capturing the Pigot galley, then blockading 
the east passage, added another to tlie revolutionary events 
of the town. 

On the 4th January, 1780, the town meetings were re- 
sumed, and the records were restored from the custody of 
Thomas Gould, and on the 19th, temporary town officers 
were elected. May 2-l:th a tax of X200 was laid, and a 
month later, three men were enlisted at a bount}' of fifty 
silver dollars each. In September, five men were enlisted 
for three months. At this time fifty dollars of Continental 
money were equal to one silver dollar, or five shillings of 
State money* In two years the depreciation of paper was 
so rapid that a silver dollar was worth twenty-two dol- 



OF MIDDLETOWN, 88 

lars of paper, and taxes were laid in silver money. The last 
levy of troops was on March 9th, 1782, for 259 men to recruit 
the State battalion for nine months. The proportion of 
Middletown was three, and thirty pounds was voted to them 
in lieu of government pay. 

When the war was over, measuies were adopted to 
encourage immigration, and in April, 1784, the Representa- 
tives were instructed ""That absentees from this or any other 
of the United States of America, appearing to be men of 
good morals and likely to become good and profitable mem- 
bers of society by their industry, or their stock, be admitted 
as citizens of this State." In 1785, the January town meet- 
ings were discontinued, a d jurors were ordered to be drawn 
in August. The paper money delusion revived with the 
advent of peace, and in February, 1786, the town petitioned 
the Assembly for an ''emission of paper money to be founded 
on land security," and instructed its Representatives to urge 
a repeal of the act prohibiting trade with the English colonies. 

The struggle for the adoption of the Constitution was a 

bitter one in this State, and was involved with the paper 

money question. On 29th March, 1788, at a special meeting 

Called by Act of Assembly, the vote on the Constitution was 

six ayes to forty noes. It was resolved that paper be no longer 

legal tender between individuals except for payment of legal 

process — that the statute of limitations on notes and book 

debts for two years be repealed, or the time lengthened, and 

that the statute of redemptions of real estate be lengthened. 

In December the Constitution was again rejected. On 19th 

October, 1789, the vote was three in favor to thirty-three 

against it. February 8th, 1790, Joshua Barker and William 

Peckham, Jr., were chosen delegates to the Constitutional 

Convention to sit at South Kingstown in March. April 21st 
5. 



34 HISTORrCAL SKETCH 

it was voted "-That this meeting do approve of the Bill of 
Rights and amendments submitted by the late Convention, 
and the delegates of this town are hereby instructed to use 
their votes and influence for adopting the Constitution of the 
United States if the said Bill of Rights and said amendments 
first become a part of the said Constitution, together with 
the following additional amendments, viz : That the pay of 
the Senators and Representatives be ascertained and paid by 
their respective States, and they recalled when their respec 
tive Legislatures may think proper, and others appointed in 
their stead ; and otherwise that the said delegates be and they 
hereby are instructed to oppose an adoption thereof." The 
strong States rights feeling of the people appeared with 
sp3cial force in the rural districts. But wiser counsels finally 
prevailed, and on the 29th May, the day on which the 
Constitution was finally adopted in the Convention at New- 
port by a vote of thirty-four to thirty-two, tie town voted 
"That the instructions heretofore given to the Delegates 
respecting the proposed Constitution be recalled. Voted, 
That the Delegates of this town be and they hereby are in- 
structed to use their influence and votes in the Convention 
now sitting at Newport for the adoption of the Constitution 
which hath been already adopted by twelve States." Under 
these instructions Wm. Peckham resigned, and Elisha Barker 
was elected as a Delegate, thus securing the adoption of 
the Constitution by the vote of this town. 

In those days the members of the General Assembly were 
paid by the towns, and six shillings a day, while in actual 
attendance, was fixed as the salary. This was amended in 
1794, to be payable only "when called off the island and not 
without ;" so that for a session in Newport or Portsmouth 
the service of the Middletown members was gratuitous ; but 
ten years later the pay was fixed at one dollar a day "on or 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 35 

off the island." In 1797 a committee was appointed to de- 
fine and run the north boundary line of the town in connec- 
tion with a committee from Portsmouth. The fi llowing 
April they made their report : 

"Town meeting, April 18, 1798. Report of North boun- 
dary Committee. The subscribers, committees from the 
towns of Portsmouth and Middletown to ascertain the bounds 
betwetn said towns, have accordingly met and examined the 
records respecting the said l)oundaries, and other evidences 
that offered — Have agreed u})on the following partition line 
yiz — Beginning at the East shore at a point measuring 240 
rods northward from a brook now called Stony l)rook near 
Joseph Taggart's house, which we judge was formerly called 
Sachuest river, where we made a monument by a heap of 
stones on a small flat rock even with the surface of the earth, 
on land belonging to John Holmes, and from thence pro- 
ceeded on a course North 39 ^ West, by the magnetic needle, 
to the northerly part of a large rock adjoining the road near 
Chase's mill, 'rom thence continuing the same course to the 
blacksmith's shop on the east road, at the south of the chim- 
ney which now belongs to Mitchell, and from thence altering 
the course to North 45^ ° West, by the said needle, to a 
monument erected on the west side of the road opposite to 
the south end of the house of Wm. Brightman, formerly built 
by Oliver Cornell, deceased, and from thence on a course 
North 40i ° West, by the said needle, to a round rock on the 
west side of the island marked N. P. on the top thereof, 
which now lies below high water mark against land formerly 
belonging to John Coggeshall, now the property of the heirs 
of Aaron Sheffield, deceased. All which we submit to the 
said towns. In witness whereof we have set our hands at 
Middletown the 17th of the 4th month called April, 1798. 

Thomas Coggeshall ^ Committee 
John Gould > for 

Benjamin Gardner ) Middletown. 

Thomas Potter. ) Committee 

Abrm. Anthony jr. > for 

Thomas Cory jr. ) Portsmouth. 

Voted, that the above and foregoing report be received and 
accepted by said meeting, and also voted that John Gould 
Esqr. be appointed to join in a committee with one man from 



36 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

the town of Portsmouth apppintecl for the purpose of setting 
up sufficient standing lioundaries in the aforesaid division 
line." 

In May, 1799, the number of councilmen, hitherto six, was 
reduced to five, and has so remained to the present time. In 
1802 an excellent act to encourage the growth of trees and 
the beautifying of the roads was passed, enabling the owners 
of land to set out trees on the highwaj's within one foot of 
their front line, and securing such trees to the owners of the 
land and to their heirs. In May, 1804, the time for town 
elections was changed to the third Wednesday in June. The 
controversy as to Sachuest beach was renewed in 1805. A 
committee reported that the land adjoining the beach was 
the property of the town. Benjamin Easton claimed it, and 
in October a report was made against Easton's claim, and 
the town voted to defend its citizens in taking sand and 
seaweed from the east end of the beach. In April, 1809, 
the most complete highway act yet adopted was passed. It 
required all repairs to be made between the third Wednes- 
day of May and the last Monday of September — surveyors 
to be chosen the third Wednesday of April and to report 
at April town meeting the condition of roads and estimates 
for repairs — said tax to be ordered then and to be assessed 
within three weeks — surveyors to give two days' notice to 
parties working the roads — commutation to be at the late of 
twelve and a half cents an hour for a man with a hoe or 
shovel, or for a pair of oxen and a chain — three cents an hour 
for a cart, bo3^s from twelve to eighteen years of age, half 
price — surveyors to be paid one dollar a day, and a plow and 
turnpike shovel to be furnis'ied to each of the seven districts. 
In 1813 the Supreme Court decided that the charity farm 
was taxable. A town house had long;; been needed. As 



OF MIDDLETOWN, 37 

early as 179o a petition to the Assembly for a lottery grant 
for tliit; purpose hud been presented but withdrawn. It was 
built in 1813 and June 1st, 1814, the council reported the 
cost to be -11005.13. 

The war with England was now at its height, and Middle- 
town claimed its share in the glory and the suffering of that 
second war of independence, the struggle for the freedom of 
the seas. The affair of the Nimrod at Smith's beach demands 
special notice in this place. 

The British man-of-war, Nimrod, of eighteen guns, chased 
a Swedish brig, with a cargo of molasses from the West 
Indies, into the east passage, one afternoon at the end of 
May, 1814. The brig ran aground on the third beach. The 
crew escaped in their boats, and hid in the sand hills, leaving 
on board the captain, who- could not swim. Next morning 
men came out from Newport, and the fort, with one six pound 
gun, on to the beach. The Nimrod came in again and fired 
on the brig some three hundred shots. No harm was done 
till the next to the last shot, which killed John E. Smith, 
and took off the leg of Isaac Barrett, who had gone out to 
the brig in a boat and brought off the captain to the shore. 
It was a ricochet shot. The victim's brother, Abner Smith, 
then a lad of twelve years, was standing close beside him 
when he was killed. Abner Smith now lives in Michigan, 
near Ann Arbor, and on a visit which he made a year ago 
to his old home, gave this narrative of the affiiir to the writer. 
Isaac Barrett recovered from his wounds, and is still, or was 
lately, living in New Bedford, and wearing a wooden leg. 
The artillery compelled the Nimrod to put to sea, and re- 
lieved this part of the coast from further annoyance. 

The following action was taken by the town in co)ise- 
quence of this affair: "The town of Middletown at their 



38 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

meeting, June 1, 1814, Taking into consideration the melan- 
choly circumstances of the deatli of John E. Smith, occasioned 
by an act of violence from one of the British armed vessels ; 
as a mark of respect and condolence with the family of the 
deceased, have voted that the funeral expenses be paid by 
said town, and hope that this mark of respect for the brave 
but unfortunate young man who fell in defence of the rights 
of his fellow citizens will be received with the same cordiality 
with which it is offered. Voted that Alanson Peckham and 
Giles Manchester, Esqrs. be a committee to carry the above 
resolution into effect." 

October 22d, a committee was appointed to consult with 
the committee of defence of Newport as to '•'what measures 
to adopt in defence of this island." 

Party spirit ran very high during this period of war, the 
Federalists opposing the policy which had brought it on, 
while the Republicans sustained the Administration on every 
point, and unjustly charged their opponents with a hostility 
approaching to the verge of treason. At the October session 
the General Assembly elected four eminent citizens (1) to 
attend a convention at Hartford on 15th December to delib- 
erate upon the condition of nsitional affairs. The virulence 
of party and the patriotic feeling of the people are equally 
and curiousW illustrated in the proceedings of this town at 
a meeting on 24th November : "Voted, that there be a com- 
mittee appointed ta make enquiry into the reasons of appoint- 
ing delegates to sit in the Hartford convention, so called, 
and of their intention when in convention, and report at the 
adjournment of this meeting." A committee of eight was 
chosen who on 3d* December reported a series of resolutions 
which were ordered to be published in the two Newport papers. 
The Mercury, a Federal paper, declined to print them, but in 

1. Daniel Lyman, Benjamin Hazard, Samuel Ward and Edward Manton, 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 39 

the next issue of the Rhode Ishmd Republican we find the 
following : 

''Spirited Resolutions 
Of the Town of Middletown. 

At a meeting of the freemen of the town of Middletown 
legally convened on the third day of December, 1814 — 

Taking into consideration the late proceedings of this State 
and other State Legislatures in appointing delegates to the 
Hartford Convention, the following resolutions were adopted 
with one dissenting voice only. 

1st. Resolved; That the Union of these States is essential 
to their safety from internal and external dangers — to the 
liberties of the people — to the independence of the nation — 
to tJie development of the fajulties of the country, and to 
its growth to that degree of greatness and prosperity which 
such development would naturally lead to. That the Con- 
stitution of the United States is the bond of this Union, the 
pledge and security for their great blessings in possession and 
still greater in prospect. That all our public affections are 
devoted and wedded to that Union, and to that Constitution 
which secures it ; that we will defend both with our blood 
and treasure : and succeed in the defence or perish in the 
attempt. 

2d. Resolved ; That we feel all projects to dissolve the 
Union of these States, whether attempted by foreign foes or 
domestic traitors, or by a conspiracy of both, as death blows 
aimed at the life of our country in its vital part, and at all 
our dearest interests as bound up in that country. And we 
invoke the patriotism of all our fellow citizens of both par- 
ties and of every State, and the vigilance of our constituted 
authorities, to watch the dawnings of all such attempts, to 
arouse at the alarm of danger, and with their united energies 
to crush the detestable foe. 

3d. Resolved ; That we view with much jealousy and dis- 
trust the proposed Convention to be held at Hartford on the 
15th December inst. That the objects avowed are inconsist- 
ent with our duties as good citizens of a common country ; 
and there is reason to believe that the real object has not 
been avowed, and that this is to dissolve the Union of these 
States. We see an army forming in a neighboring State to 
be independent of the United States. We see in their pub- 
lic prints this nefarious object advocated by the patrons of 
this Convention, and we see no disavowal through the same 
channel. 



40 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

4th. Resolved ; That we disapprove and deprecate the 
Act of the General Assembly of this State in appointing del- 
egates to said Convention ; that it was an unauthorized act 
and not within their commission as representatives of the 
people in our State Legislature ; that the sense and instruc- 
tions of their constituents ought to have been taken upon so 
novel, important, and questionable a measure ; that it was 
highly inexpedient at this time, as holding the country up 
to the public enemy as torn, or likely to be torn to pieces by 
internal dissensions, and thereby giving him fresh incentives 
to persevere in the war and compel a submission to a dishon- 
orable peace ; that of all the States, Rhode Island should 
have been among the last to show any disposition to leave the 
Wing of the Union, or to give any countenance to any 
project of separation. She has no security whatever ; no, 
not for a moment in her own independent strength. The 
Union is the Ark of her safety. 

5th. Resolved : that we will unite with all our fallow 
citizens of this State and all other States in watching the 
movements of said Convention ; that we will co-operate with 
our said fellow citizens, and rally round our government in 
all measures to arrest and punish any attempts against the 
Union should they dare to make any. 

Alanson Peckham, Moderator.'" 

In this case, as in so many others, a little patient waiting 
would have been no loss, since the Report of the Convention 
was a complete refutation of the malice of its enemies in 
their charge of seditious designs. The Convention recom- 
mended certain amendments to the Constitution. These 
were opposed by the townsmen who on 19th April, 1815, 
"Voted and Resolved; That the Representatives of Middle- 
town be instructed to act and use all their influence in the 
General Assembly against receiving, allowing, or adopting 
the proposed amendments of the present Constitution of the 
United States, projected by the Hartford convention, so 
called. Also, Voted to instruct the Representatives to o[)- 
pose pay being allowed, if asked for by the delegates to the 
Hartford convention." 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 41 

In June, 1819, the time of election of town officers was 
changed to April. A part of Newport petitioned the Assem- 
bly to be annexed to Middletown, but the town opposed the 
movement. Three years later a similar petition from resi- 
dents of Newport was rejected in town meeting hy twenty- 
seven majority. The South boundary of the town was 
defined as follows : 

"Town Meeting, August 26, 1823. Report of South boun- 
dary committee, Middletown, November 16, 1822. 

The committee that was appointed by the towns of New- 
port and Middletown at their April town meetings, 1822, to 
run the lines between the said towns. Therefore the said 
committees beg leave to report the following. We met on 
the above date, all parties present, and proceeded to run the 
line, Thomas Cory, Surveyor. We began at the northwest end 
of said line, about ten rods above high water, — said end is in 
Wm. Roach's land, adjoining James Chace's farm, from thence 
we proceeded to run the line south 19^ ° east until it strikes 
the corner of Asher Robbins house on the west side of the 
road, from thence 27 ° degrees east of south until it strikes 
the creek on Easton's beach where the bridge for^ierly stood, 
and so on that course into the sea, and for the better infor- 
mation of the towns name the several farms in Middletown 
through which the line runs. (Twelve farms named.) 
James Stephens, Committee from Newport. 

Alanson Peckham, ^ Committee 
Thomas Manchester, > from 

George Irish, ) Middletown.'' 

In 1824 the first movement was made to form a Constitu- 
tion for this State. Joseph Rogers and William Bailey were 
the delegates to the convention at Newport, held June 21. 
This town rejected the Constitution in October by a vote of 
ninety-six to one — George Irish casting the onl}^ affirmative 
vote. In 1826 the seaweed rights were put up to rent at 
auction, and the town agreed to defend suits against those 
who hired them. Ten years later the line w'as determined 

between the common lands and those of the N. Easton 
6 



42 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

heiis, and these were allowed to take sand on the beach. In the 
Presidential election of 1828 the vote of the town was for 
Adams 78, for Jackson 5. The movement for an extension 
of suffrage met no approval in the town, and in 1829 the 
Representatives were instructed to oppose it. In 1839, an 
evil which since that day has greatly increased, began to be 
felt, and a remedy was proposed in town meeting, August 
27th. "-Voted, that our Representatives in the General 
Assembl}^ be and they are hereby instructed to use their 
influence to obtain the passage of a law limiting the time of 
each and every session of the General Assembly hereafter to 
be holden, to three weeks, and that all sittings of the General 
Assembly ovei: three weeks 'shall be at the expense of the 
members of that bod}^" 

A renewed effort to form a Constitution for the State was 
made in 1841. Benjamin Weaver and Pardon Brown were 
chosen delegates to the convention to meet at Providence in 
November. The result of that convention, known as ''The 
People's Constitution,"' was submitted to popular vote for 
three days, March 21, 22 and 23, 1842, and was adopted in 
Middletown by a vote of 152 to six. Its partizans claimed 
that it was adopted by the people, and proceeded to organize 
a State government under its provisions, with Thomas W. 
Dorr at their head. Its opponents denied the claim of its 
adoption as well as the validity of the proceedings held under 
it. Old party lines were at once obliterated in the face of 
an imminent and present peril. The "Suffrage Party" on 
one side upheld the new constitution. The "Law and Order 
Party" stood by the old charter until it should be lawfully 
superseded by another constitution, legally made and hon- 
estly adopted. Violence was appealed to in behalf of the 
"People's Constitution," and an armed attempt was made to 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 43 

overthrow the existing institutions of the State. The revul- 
sion of feeling in Middletown, and throughout the State, 
was sudden and complete. The citizens rallied to suppress 
a lawless and causeless rehellion, whose chief support was 
derived from abroad. To Middletown belongs the honor of 
raising the second cavalry corps organized in the State to 
sustain the governmeTit. It was commanded by Col. Nathan- 
iel Greene, a grandson of the Revolutiouciry General. As 
soon as this insurrection was suppressed, the State govern- 
ment called a Convention, to meet at Newport in September, 
to frame a constitution. At a town meeting on th?, 30th of 
August, Pardon Brown and Abner Peckham were chosen 
delegates to that Convention. The new constitution was 
submitted to the people on 21st, 22d and 23d of November. 
The vote in this town was unanimous — one hundred in favor 
and none against it ; while on the provision to admit colored 
men to vote, it stood eighteen to insert the word "white" to 
forty-seven against the restriction, a majority of twenty-nine 
for colored suffrage. The old charter, under which the State 
had existed for 180 years, gave place to the present constitu- 
tion. It is memorable in history for many things, and among 
them for its vitality, as, at the time of its abrogation, it was 
the oldest constitutional charter in the world. 

In 1846, bounds were set up on the line between Newport 
and Middletown, and in 18(30 on the Portsmouth line. In 
1846, school district number five was set off, and the next 
year the schools and school houses were placed under the 
supervision of the school committee, who, if they were op- 
posed by the district committees, were to appeal to the State 
Superintendent under the new law of 1845, reorganizing the 
schools. The last serious disagreement in regard to the 
schools took place in 1853, when on 20th June the school 



44 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

committee petitioned the Council against the management of 
the two six-acre school lots, alleging an unfair distribution of 
the proceeds of these lands, in that the north lot was applied 
solely to district number one, leaving the south lot alone to 
the other four districts. In reply, the Council, on the 15th 
of August, decreed that the rents derived from these lands 
■'shall be appropriated to the schooling and educating of all 
the children of all the citizens and inhabitants of the town." 
An appeal from this decision was taken in behalf of district 
number one. The decree of the Council was overruled and 
the appeal sustained by the Supreme Court. In 1855 the 
present bridge over the creek on Easton's beach, was built by 
conjoint action with Newport, at a cost of 1550. 

In June, 1853, Nathaniel Greene and Augustus Peckham 
were appointed as delegates to a Convention proposed to be 
held in Providence, on 9th of August, to amend the Consti- 
tution of the State. At this meeting 81 voted against a 
Convention and five for it. In No\ ember the vote on the 
same question was 103 noes to 7 ayes. The next year, Nov. 
7th, 1854, five proposed amendments to the Constitution 
having been put out by the Assembly to be voted for by the 
people, they were rejected in Middletown by an average vote 
of nine in favor to fifty-two against them. A similar attempt 
to amend the Constitution was rejected two years, later by 
about one hundred majority. The disposition to tamper 
with existing institutions has never met with much cncour- 
ao;ement from the farmers of the State. 

The great Southern rebellion aroused the spirit of the peo- 
ple in defence of the national government, as nineteen years 
before they had rallied to .preserve their domestic insti- 
tutions. Recruiting for the Union army was active, and mil- 
itary organizations were formed. A company of infantry 



OF MIDDLETOWK. 45 

was organized, commanded by Captain Benjamin Rowland- 
In October, 18G1, a bounty of twenty dollars was given to 
each recruit for the national forces, and if married, and 
having a family, ten dollars were given to the wife and three 
dollars for each child under fourteen years of age. In July, 
1862, $125 bounty was voted to each one of the town's 
quota of eighteen men, and this sum was doubled two weeks 
later. The full quota was received and paid on 15th 
August. On the President's second call for 300,000 men, 
a bounty of $350 Avas voted. 

In October, 1863, another attempt to enlarge the suffrage 
by an amendment to the Constitution was rejected by a vote 
of 13 to 35. The next effort in this direction in 1871, pro- 
posed to enlarge the suffrage, to abolish the registry tax, and 
to provide against sectarian schools. The two former amend- 
ments were rejected by decided majorities in a very small 
vote, while the latter was adopted by a vote of eighteen to 
nine. The first two of these amendments were again pro- 
posed and voted upon at the recent election, November 7th, 
1876, together with another of less importiince. This was 
the seventh time within twenty-three years that the towns- 
men had been called out to vote upon questions of amend- 
ment to the Constitution. In this last trial the rejection of 
all three of the articles by large majorities conveyed a de- 
cided rebuke to the spirit that is perpetually at work to 
revise the fundamental law. The Presidential vote at the 
same time stood 148 Republican, 22 Democratic. 

Since the final disappearance of the small pox, at the be- 
ginning of the century, no serious epidemic has disturbed the 
health of the town. In 1865 the spread of pleuro-pneumo- 
nia among cattle caused some alarm. The Council appointed 
commissioners to inspect infected cattle, and to require the 



46 HISTOEICAL* SKETCH 

owners to isolate them, under a penalty of twenty dollars for 
neglect to do so, or for allowing them to run at large. This 
ordinance was re-enacted in January, 1871. 

In a town wholly occupied in agricultural pursuits there 
are few public works or private enterprises to require notice. 
In 1850, leave was granted to a telegraph company to erect 
poles along the east, or main road, and in 1862 the Old 
Colony Railroad Company built a line of railroad down the 
west side of the island from Fall River to Newport, skirting 
the western shore of the town. In August, 1864, a tract of 
eight acres was bought for $2500, to be laid out as a ceme- 
tery, and $1500 were appropriated for this purpose during the 
year. In April, 1869, $500, from the sale of lots, were voted 
for further improvement of tlie grounds. 

The increase of population has been very slow. Begin- 
ning with 680 in 1748, it had only increased to 840 at the 
first United States census of 1790, and at the census of 1782, 
near the close of the Revolution, had actually fallen below 
the starting point, being but 674. In the next half century 
it did not hold its own, having lost ten in that period. Since 
1850 it has gained a little, although there was a decline 
between the State census of 1865 and the National census of 
1870. The present population, by the census of last year, 
was 1074. (1) 

The increase in the value of real property has been greater 
than that of population, although the commercial revulsion, 
which commenced in 1867, made heavy inroads upon the 
personal property of the town. A comparison of the asses- 
sors' valuations in 1867, the first year in which the tax book 

1 Table of population as shown by the sixteen censuses since the incorporation 
of the town. See census of R. I. for 1865, p. 32. 

1748 1755 1774 177G 1782 1790 1800 1810 1820 

«80 778 881 8U0 (174 840 9i;S 97(! 949 

1830 1840 1850 1800 18C5 1870 1875 

915 891 830 1012 1019 971 1074 



OF MIDDLETOWN. 47 

was printed, with those of the past year, will illustrate this 
remark. The value of personal estate in 1866 was t|53t.200, 
wliich was reduced by $64,700 the next year. The panic of 
1873 still further reduced it to $378,600 in the valuation of 
1874, the lowest point in the decade. In 1876 the personal 
valuation was $394,300, showing a decline of $136,900 in the 
ten years. The valuation of real estate in 1866 was 
$1,164,650, and in 1876, $1,555,850, a gain of $391,200, and 
showing an advance in the total valuation of $254,300 in the 
ten years. 

The area of the town is 12.7 square miles or 8128 acres. 

The town has never sought to avail itself of the great 
natural advantages which it possesses. With a soil and 
climate which two centuries ago gave to this island the name 
of "the Eden of America" ; with a surface so diversified by 
hill and valley that every few rods presents a new and de- 
lightful prospect of land or water, and opens to the view 
fresh surprises of hill and dale, rugged rocks or sandy beach ; 
with the broad Atlantic on the south, the beautiful island on 
the north, and the fine expanse of Narraganset bay washing 
either shore, while the fair old city of Newport, now the 
loveliest watering place in the world, rises close at hand, it 
needs but a little of the enterprise of commercial communi- 
ties to make Middletown an ideal home for all that is refined 
and elegant in our civilization- Slowly, but at last, the town 
appears to be awakening to an understanding of its possibili- 
ties. New roads are project-d to give access to spots whose 
beauty has too long been concealed. A broad avenue ex- 
tending north from Tonomy hill, (1) near the western shore, 

1. The name of this hiU is properly Wonometonomy, and by abbreviation 
Tonomy, from tlie last independent chief of the Acquedneek tribe;, wlm occupied 
and gave name to this island. Long before the arrival of the En^,'lisli Tashtas- 
suek, the warlike chief of the Narragansetts and father of Canoniciis, and «ieat- 
uncle of Miantonomi, snbdiiol the Aequednecks. Tradition points to this liill as 
the resilience of the Aciiiicdncck Sachem, and for him it was named. "Tamma- 
ny" hill is a popular perversion of the name. 



48 HISTORICAL SKETCH 

and another along the beaches, sweeping close under the 
Hanging rock, to connect with Indian Cliff avenue on the 
eastern side, are already planned, and when ^completed will 
throw oj)en to the public the most superb villa sites to be 
found in America. The fifty years which Bishop Berkeley 
assigned as the period when this vicinity would "blossom as the 
rose" in the sunlight of prosperity, have long gone by ; but 
it seems less rash at the present time to fix that limit as one 
within which Middletown will become a permanent resort 
for those who value the beauties of nature, and the enjoy- 
ment of rest, above the excitement of city life. 




APPENDIX. 



MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 



DEPUTIES OR REPRESETNTATIVES. 



These were chosen every six months for the May and 
October sessions down to 1843. The dates affixed are those 
of the election ; and where there is an interval between 
the dates the same persons were re-elected till the next 
date. 



■ 1743, Aug. 30. 
Daniel Gould, 
John Taylor. 

1744, Aug. 28. 
Robert Nichols, 
John Tajdor. 

1745, Aug. 27. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
John Taylor. 

1746, April 16. 
Robert Nichols, 
John Taylor. 

1747, Aug. 25. 
Daniel Gould, 
John Taylor. 

1748, April 20. 

John Rogers, 
John Taylor. 

7 



, Aug. 30. 

Robert Barker, 
Jonathan Easton. 

1749, Aug. 29. 
Jonathan Easton, 
William Turner. 

1750, Aug. 28. 
Edward Easton. 
Peter Barker. 

1751, April 17. 
John Rogers, 
Peter Barker. 

. Aug. 27. 

William Turner, 
Joshua Coggeshall. 

1752, Aug. 25. 
John Barker, 
Handley Chipman. 



APPENDIX. 



1753, Aug. 28. 
John Barker, 
Thomas Gould. 

1754, Aug. 27. 
Thomas Gould, 
Joshua Coggeshall, Jr, 

1755, Aug. 26. 
Thomas Gould, 
William Turner. 

1756, Aug. 31. 
Thomas Gould, 
William Bailey. 

1757, April 20. 
William Bailey, 
Joshua Coggeshall, jr. 

1758, April 19. 
William Bailey, 
John Barker. 

, Aug. 29. 

Samuel Bailey, Jr., 
James Barker, Jr. 

1759, Aug. 28. 
Samuel Bailey, Jr., 
John Clarke. 

1760, Aug. 26. 
James Barker, Jr., 
Jonathan Easton. 

1762, Aug. 31. 

James Barker, Jr., 
William Bailey. 

1763, Aug. 30. 
James Barker, Jr., 
John Holmes. 

1764, April 18. 
Gideon Coggeshall, 
John Holmes. 



, Aug. 28. 

Joseph Ryder, 
Samuel Bailey. 

1765, April 17. 
Joshua Barker, 
John Holmes, 

, Aug. 27. 

Joshua Barker, 
John Bailey. 

1766, April 16. 
Joshua Barker, 
John Holmes. 

1767, Aug. 25. 
John Barker, 
John Holmes. 

1768, April 20. 
John Barker, 
Thomas Coggeshall, Jr. 

1769, Aug. 29. 
Edward Barker, Jr., 
Thomas Peckham. 

1770, April 18. 

Thomas Coggeshall, Jr. 
Thomas Peckham. 

, Aug 28. 

Thomas Coggeshall, Jr. 
John Holmes. 

1771, Aug. 27. 
Joshua Barker, 
William Taggart. 

1772, April 15. 
Joshua Barker, " 
Isaac Smith. 

, Aug. 25. 

Nicholas Easton, 
Isaac Smith. 



APPENDIX. 



111. 



1774, Aug. 30. 
James Potter, 
Isaac Smith. 

1775, Aug. 29. 

James Potter, 
Nicholas Easton. 

1776, April 17. 
Joshua Barker, 
Nicholas Easton. 

, Aug, 27. 

George Irish, 
Nicholas Easton. 

(Records cease Dec. 2.) 

1780, March 22. 
Nicholas Easton, 
George Irish. 

1781, Aug. 28. 
George IHsh, 
Oliver Durfee, 

1782, April 17. 
Oliver Durfee, 
John Manchester. 

1783, April 16. 
Nicholas Easton, 
John Manchester. 

1784, April 21. 
Benjamin Gardiner, 
William Taggart, Jr. 

, Aug. 31. 

Nicholas Easton, 
Thomas Coggeshall. 

1785, Aug. 30. 
Nicholas Easton, 
James Potter. 

1786, April 19. 
John Gould, 
Thomas Coggeshall. 



1787, April 10. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Joseph Coggeshall. 

, Aug. 28. 

Elisha Allen, 
Joseph Coggeshall. 

1788, April 16. 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Joseph Coggeshall. 

, Aug. 26. 

Joshua Barker, 
James Potter. 

1790, April 21. 
Joshua Barker, 
Pardon Brown. 

, Aug. 31. 

William Peckham, Jr., 
James Potter. 

1791, April 20. 
William Peckham, 
Nicholas Easton. 

, Aug. 30. 

James Potter, 
.lohn Holmes. 

1793, April 17. 
Benjamin Gardiner, 
.John Holmes. 

, Aug. 27. 

Easton Bailey, 
John Holmes. 

1794, April 16. 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Nicholas Easton. 

-, Aug. 26. 



William Peckham, Jr., 
Isaac Barker. 



IV. 



APPENDIX. 



1795, April 15. 
Joshua Ptckliam, 
Isaac Barker. 

1797, April 19. 
Williara Peckham, Jr., 
Benjamin Gardiner. 

, Aug. 29. 

Benjamin Gardiner, 
James Potter. 

1798, April 18. 
Benjamin Gardiner, 
William Taggart. 

, Aug. 28. 

Nicholas Easton, 
Easton Bailey. 

1799, April 17. 
Samuel Manchester, 
Easton Bailey. 

1801, April 15. 
Samuel Manchester, 
Joseph Rogers. 

1802, April 21. 
Samuel Manchester, 
Benjamin Easton. 

1805, Aug. 27. 
Isaac Barker, 
Peleg Sanford. 

1806, April 10. 

Isaac Barker, 
Alanson Peckham. 

, Aug. 26. 

Samuel Manchester, 
Alanson Peckham. 

1809, August 29. 
Isaac Barker, 
Alanson Peckham. 



1810, April 18. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Thomas Manchester. 

1812, Aug 25. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Joshua Coggeshall. 

1814," Aug. 30. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Isaac Barker. 

1815, April 19. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Thomas Manchester. 

, Aug. 29. 

Isaac Barker, 
Peleg Sandford. 

1816, April 17. 
Peleg Sandford, 
Thomas Manchester. 

, Aug 27. 

Nathaniel Hazard, 
Alanson Peckham. 

1818, Aug. 25. 
Nathaniel Hazard, 
Peleg Sandford. 

1819. April 21. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Joseph Rogers. 

. Aug. 31. 

Giles Manchester, 
Peter Barker. 

1822, Aug. 27. 
Giles Manchester. 
Peleg Peckham, Jr. 

1823, Aug. 26. 
George Irish. 
Alanson Peckham. 



APPENDIX. 



1824, April 21. 
Giles Manchester, 
Noel Coggeshall. 

1827, April 18. 
Joseph Rogers, 
Noel Coggeshall. 

, Aug. 28. 

William Bailey, 
John Chase. 

1828, April 16. 
William Baile.y, 
Nathaniel Wyatt., 

1829, April 15. 
William Bailey, 
Augustus Peckham. 

1830, April 21. 
Augustus Peckham. 
John Chase. 

, Aug. 31. 

William Smith, 1st, 
John Chase. 

1831, Aug. 30. 
John R. Peckham, 
Pardon Brown. 

1832, Aug. 30. 
John R. Peckham, 
Joshua Coggeshall. 

1833, April 17. 
John R. Peckham, 
Thomas G. Rogers. 

1837, Aug. 29. 
John R. Peckham, 
Benjamin Weaver. 

1838, April 18. 

Benjamin Weaver, 
William Taggart. 



1842, April 20. 
Benjamin Weaver. 
Joseph I. Bailey. 

1843. 
Augustus Peckham, Jr, 

1845. 
Abner Peckham. 

1846. 
William Peckham. 

1847. 
Peter Barker. 

1848. 

Samuel Gould. 

« 1850. 

Augustus Peckham. 

1851. 
George I. Bailey- 

1852. 
George H. Peckham. 
1853. 
Abner Ward. 

1854. 
William B. Rowland. 

1857. 
Augustus Peckham. 

1858. 
John Gould. 

1860. 
James Chase. 

1861. 
William B. Chase. 

1863 
James Chase. 

1864. 
Abraham Peckham. 



VI. 



APPENDIX. 



1865. 
Thomas Coggeshall, J.r. 

1871. 
Augustus Peckham. 

1872. 
Andrew J. Cory. 



1874. 
Eugene Sturtevant. 

1875-6. 
Nathaniel Peckham. 



1843. 
Joseph I. Bailey. 

1845. 
Benjamin Weaver. 

1847. 
Pardon Brow^n. 

1848. 
Nathaniel Greene. 

1852. 
John Gould. 

1856. 
Augustus Peckham. 

1857. 
John Gould. 



SENATORS. 

1858. 
Augustus Peckham. 

1860. 
Peleg T. Sherman. 

1863. 
William F. Peckham. 
' 1864. 

William B. Rowland. 

1865. 
Jethro Peckham. 

1870. 
John Gould. 

1875-6. 
Robert S. Chase. 



TOWN COUNCILS. 



1743-4. 

Peleg Smith, 
Joseph Holmes, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
James Barker, 
Isaac Smith, 
Peter Barker. 

1745-6. 

Peleg Smith, 
Joseph Holmes. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
James Barker, 
Isaac Smith, 
John Green. 



1747. 

Peleg Smith, 
John Taylor, 
Thomas Coggeshall. 
John Allen, 
Isaac Smith, 
John Rogers. 

1748-9. 

Peleg Smith, 
John Taylor, 
Tliomas Coggeshall, 
John Allen, 
Isaac Smith, 
James Coggeshall. 



APPENDIX. 



1750. 

Daniel Gould, 
JoLn Green, 
Thomas Weaver, Jr., 
John Allen, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
James Coggeshall. 

1751-2. 
Robert Barker, 
John Green, 
Thomas Weaver, Jr., 
John Allen, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
James Coggeshall. 

1753. 
Robert Barker, 
Robert Nichols, 
William Turner, 
John Clarke, 
William Peckham, Jr.. 
James Coggeshall. 

1754. 

Daniel Gould, 
John Taylor, 
John Rogers, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
William Peckham, Jr. 
John Allen. 

1755. 
Daniel Gould, 
John Taylor, 
John Rogers, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
James Barker, Jr. 

1756-7. 
John Taylor, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
John Allen, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
James Barker, Jr., 
William Stoddard. 



1758-9. 

John Taylor, 

John Rogers, 

John Allen, 

William Peckham. Jr., 

James Barker, 

William Stoddard. 

1760-1. 
John Rogers, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Joseph Ryder, 
Samuel Peckham, 
James Barker, Jr., 
John Clarke. 

1762 
John Taylor, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Joseph Ryder, 
Samuel Peckham, 
William Turner, 
Gideon Coggeshall. 

1763. 
William Turner. 
George Cornell, 
Joshua Coggeshall, Jr., 
Giles Sandford. 
John Holmes, 
Joshua Coggeshall. 

1764. 
William Turner, 
George Cornell, 
John Gould, Jr., 
Giles Sandford, 
John Holmes, 
Joshua Coggeshall. 

1765-6. 
John Taylor, 
John Rogers, 
John Allen, 
William Peckham, 
James Barker, 
William Stoddard. 



Vlll. 



APPENDIX. 



1767. 

William Peckham, 
William Stoddard, 
Joseph Ryder, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
William Turner, 
John Greene. 
1768. 

William Peckham, 
William Sto-^dard, 
Joseph Ryder, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
George Cornell, 
John Greene. 

1769. 
William Peckham, 
William Stoddard, 
Joseph Ryder, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
John Gould, 
John Green. 

1770-1-2. 
William Peckham, 
William Stoddard. 
Joshua Barker, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
John Gould, 
John Green. 

1773-4. 

William Turner, 
Joseph Ryder, 
John Slocum, 
John Bailey. 
Salisbury Stoddard, 
John Clarke. 

1775. 
William Peckham, 
Joseph Ryder, 
Thomas Coggeshall 
John Bailey, 
George Irish, 
Joshua Barker. 



1776. 
Thomas Coggeshall. 
Joseph Ryder, 
Nicholas Easton, 
John Bailey, 
George Irish, 
Joshua Barker. 

1780, March. 
John Clarke, 
Thomas Coggeshall. 
Stephen Peckham, 
William Peckham, son of S. 
Joshua Barker, 
Elisha Barker, 

1780, May, 1781. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Stephen Peckham, 
William Peckham, son of S. 
Joshua Barker, 
William Brown, 
William Peckham, Jr. 

1782. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Stephen Peckham, 
Joshua Barker, 
William Brown, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Robert Cornell. 

1783. 
John Rogers, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Joshua Barker, 
Nicholas Easton, 
William Peckhimi, Jr., 
Robert Cornell. 

1784. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Joshua Barker, 
Nicholas Easton, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Robert Cornell, 
John Manchester. 



APPENDIX. 



IX. 



1785. 

Thomas Coggeshall, 
Joshua Barker, 
Nicholas Easton, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
James Potter, 
John Manchester. 

1786. 

Thomas Coggeshall, 
Joshua Barker, 
William Peckham, 
James Potter, 
John Manchester, 
William Taggart, Jr. 

1787. 
Nicholas Easton, 
William Peckham, Jr.. 
James Potter, 
Parker Hall, 
Benjamin Gardner, 
William Taggart, Jr. 

1788-9-90. 
Nicholas Easton, 
James Potter, 
Parker Hall, 
Benjamin Gardner, 
William Taggart, Jr., 
Joshua Barker. 

1791. 
Nicholas Easton, 
James Potter, 
Parker Hall, 
Benjamin Gardner, 
William Taggart, Jr., 
Oliver Durfee. 

1792. 
Nicholas Easton, 
Jamas Potter, 
Parker Hall, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
William Taggart, Jr„ 
Tliomas Manchester. 
9 



1793. 
Nicholas Easton, 
Parker Hall, 
William Peckham, Ji'., 
William Taggart, Jr., 
Benjamin Gardner, 
Thomas Manchester. 

1794. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Parker Hall, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
William Taggart, Jr., 
Thomas Manchester, 
Joshua Peckham. 

1795-6-7-8. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
Parker Hall, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
William Taggart, Jr., 
Thomas Manchester, 
Benjamin Gardner. 

1799-1800-1. 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Thomas Coggeshall, Jr., 
John Irish, 
Joshua Peckham. 

1802. 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Thomas Manchester, 
John Irish, 
Joshua Peckham, 
Peleg Sandford. 

1808-4-5. 
William Peckham, Jr., 
Thomas Manchester, 
Alanson Peckham, 
Isaac Barker, 
Peleg Sandford. 



APPENDIX. 



1806. 
Isaac; Barker, 
Thomas Manctxester^ 
Alanson Peckham, 
Peleg Sandford, 
John Allen. 

1807-8. 
Isaac Barker, 
Joseph Rogers, 
William Bailey, 
Peleg Sandford, 
John AlleJi. 

1809. 
Alanscn Peckham, 
Joseph Rogers, 
William Bailey, 
Thomas Manchester, 
John Allen. 

1810. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Joseph Rogers, 
William Bailey, 
Thomas Manchester, 
Clarke Taggart. 

1811. 
Isaac Barker. 
Joseph Rogers, 
William Bailey, 
Thomas Manchester, 
Clarke Taggart. 
1812-13. 
Alanson Peckham, 
Peleg Sandford, 
John Irish, 
Thomas Manchester, 
Clarke Taggart. 

1814-15. 
Isaac Barker, 
William Bailey, 
John Irish, 
Thomas Manchester, 
Clarke Taggart. 



1816. 
Isaac Barker, 
William Bailey, 
Thomas Manchester, 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall. 

1817. 
William Bailey, 
Thomas Manchester, 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Peter Barker. 
1818. 
William Bailey, 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Peter Barker, 
John R. Peckham. 

1819. 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Peter Barker, 
John R. Peckham, 
Giles Manchester. 

1820-1-2-3-4-5. 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
John R. Peckham, 
Giles Manchester, 
Peleg Peckham, Jr. 

1826. 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggesnall, 
John R. Peckham. 
Peleg Peckham, Jr., 
Pardon Brown. 
1827. 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Joseph Rogers, 
Peleg Sandford, 
John Chase. 



APPENDIX. 



XI. 



1828. 
Clarke Taggart, 
William S. Peckham, 
Augustus Peckham, 
John Barker, 
John B. Hall. 

1829. 
Clarke Taggart, 
William S. Peckham, 
Joseph Rogers, 
Jethro F. Mitchell, 
I. Bailey Hall. 
1830-1. 
Clarke Taggart, 
William S. Peckham, 
Joseph Rogers, 
John Barker, 
I. Bailey Hall. 

183'^. 
Clarke Taggart, 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Joseph Rogers, 
Benjamin Smith, 
William Taggart, Jr. 

1833-4-5. 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Pardon Brown, 
Benjamin Smith, 
William Taggart, Jr., 
Peleg Peckham. 

1836. 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Philip Anthony, 
Benjamin Smith, 
Peleg Peckham, 
Peter Barker. 

1837-8. 
Joshua Coggeshall, 
Philip Anthony, 
Peleg Peckham, 
Peter Barker, 
William Peckham. 



1839. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peleg Peckham, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
Nathaniel Wyatt. 

1840. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peleg Peckham, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
William Peckham, 

1841. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
William Peckham, 
James M. Smith. 

1842-3. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
Felix Peckham, Jr., 
Robert S. Chase. 

1844-5. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
Robert S. Chase, 
Jethro J. Peckham. 

1846. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
Jethro J. Peckham, 
James Chase, 2d, 

1847. 
Philip Anthony, 
Peter Barker, 
Pardon Brown, 
George I. Bailey, 
Stephen G. Barker. 



xn. 



APPENDIX. 



1848-9. 
Philip Anthony, 
George Anthony, 
Peleg Peckhara, 
George W. Peckhani, 
George A. Brown. 

1850-1. 
George Anthon}^ 
Peleg Peckham, 
George W. Peckham, 
George A. Brown, 
Thomas Coggeshall. 

1852. 
George Anthony, 
Peleg Peckham, 
George A. Brown, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 
James M. Smith. . 

1853-4. 
George Anthony, 
George W. Peckham, 
Jethro J. Peckham, 
Henry Taber, 
William Peckham. 

1855. 
George Anthony, 
George A. Brown. 
James M. Smith, 
William F. Peckhani, 
Daniel Chase. 
1856. 
Nathaniel Peckham, 
Restcome Peckham, 
Noel Coggeshall, 
Jelhro Peckham, 
Henry Taber. 

1857. 
Nathaniel Peckham, 
Restcome Peckham, 
Daniel Chase, 
Jethro Peckham, 
Henry Taber. 



1858-9-60. 
Jethro Peckham, 
Abner Ward, 
Daniel Chase, 
William B. Howland, 
James E. Wyatt. 

1861. 
Nathaniel Peckham, 
William F. Peckham, 
Daniel Chase, 
William Bailey, 
James M. Smith. 

1862. 
Daniel Chase, 
William F. Peckham, 
Thomas B. Buffum, 
James M. Smith, 
Hiram Barker. 

1863-4. 
Daniel Chase, 
James M. Smith, 
Hiram Barker, 
Isaac Barker, 
Charles H. Hazard. 

1865. 
George C. Coggeshall, 
Hiram Barker, 
James M. Smith, 
Isaac Barker, 
Charles H. Hazaid. 

1866-7. 
George C. Coggeshall, 
Gilbert L. Ward, 
Benjamin Wyatt, 
William F. Peckham, 
Augustus Peckham. 

1868. 
George C. (-oggeshall, 
Benjamin Wyatt, 
William F. Peckham, 
Augustus Peckham, 
Francis Talbot. 



APPENDIX. 



XUl. 



1869-70. 

George Coggesliall, 
Benjamin Wyatt, 
Augustus Peckham, 
Francis Talbot, 
Stephen P. Barker. 

1871. 
George Coggeshall, 
Benjamin Wyatt, 
Augustus Peckham, 
Francis Talbot, 
William F. Peckham, 

1876. 
Noel Coggeshall, 
Frederic A. Lawton. 
Nathaniel Peckham, 
Stephen P. Barker, 
Gilbert L. Ward. 



1872-3-4. 

Benjamin Wyatt, 
Noel Coggeshall, 
Charles H. Hazard, 
William F. Peckham, 
Charles Peckham, 2d. 

1875. 
Noel Coggeshall, 
William Bailey, 
Frederic A. Lawton, 
Nathaniel Peckham, 
Stephen P. Barker. 



TOWN CLERKS. 



Edward Easton, 1743-1749. 
*Edward Tew, 1749. 
John Barker, 1749-1780. 
Parker Hall, pro. tem, 1780. 
Oliver Durfee, 1780-1783. 



♦Died in office. 



Thomas Peckham, 1783-1785. 
Elisha Allen, 1785-1829. 
William Smith. 1829-1839. 
Joshua Coggeshall, 1839-1873. 
Albert L. Chase, 187H. 



TOWN TREASURERS 



Thomas Gould, 1743-1758. 
William Bailey, 1758-1771. 
James Barker, Jr., 1771-1774. 
Stephen Peckham, 1774-1775. 
Thomas Peckham, 1775-1783. 
Elisha Barker, 1783-1802. 
Giles Manchester, 180i^-1830. 
Berij. T. Sheffield, 1830-1832. 



Elisha Peckham, 1832-1835. 
Benj. T. Sheffield, 1835-1849. 
Peter Barker, 1849-1855. 
Stockford E. Tilley, 1855-1860. 
Peter Barker, 1860-1862. 
Felix A. Peckham, 1862-1870. 
Joseph P. Bai-kei-, 1870. 



APPENDIX. 



TOWN SERGEANTS. 



PelegKogers, 1743-1751. 
Lawrence Clarke, 1751-1754. 
Thomas Weaver, 1754-1770. 
Josh. Coggeshall, Ji^. 1770-1773. 
William Weaver, 1773-1774. 
Samuel Bailey, 1774-1780. 
Elisha Peckham, 1780-1787. 
John Coggeshall, 1787-1788. 
Elisha Peckham, 1788-1789. 
Richard Peckham, 1789-1799. 
Joseph Peabody, 1799-1800. 
Matthew Weaver, 1800 to Nov. 



Isaac Taggart, 1800-1801. 
Elisha Barker, 1801-1802. 
James Coggeshall, 1802-1803. 
Wm. S. Peckham, 1803-1808. 
Henry Peckham, 1808-1821. 
Asa Barker, 1821-1829. 
Thomas C. Wyatt, 1829-1842. 
John Gould, 1842-1852. 
Henry E. Palmer, 1852-1853. 
Gardner T. Slocnm, 1853-1855. 
Albert G. Barker, 1855.1856. 
Gardner T. Slocum. 1856, 



mm 
mw 








